William p



(No Model.)

W. P. TRACY.

BARREL MAKING MACHINE.

No. 348,481. Patented Aug. 31, 1886.

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IVILLIAM P. TRACY, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROBERT M. LUTON, OF SAME PLACE.

BARREL-MAKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,481, dated August 31, 1886 Application iiled March 31, 1886. Serial No. 197,321.

To all when@ it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM RTRGY, of Grand Rapids, in the county ol' Kent and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Barrel-Making Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to the manufacture of barrels ont of staves, more particularly to the Io assembling of the staves, and their formation into a barrel ready to receive the hoop.

My object is to provide a simple and inexpensive apparatus by which the setting of the staves and shaping of the barrel may be quickly, effectively, and easily performed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents the machine in front elevation with the staves assembled and the clamp open, but ready to be closed for work. Fig. 2 shows a 2o sectional elevation with the clamp closed and down. Fig. 3 shows a front elevation with the barrel in place as formed.

As represented in the drawings, the standards A A are set upon a base, B, and are fixed 2 5 firmly in place. They are grooved to receive the sides c ofthe frame C by means of pinions d ou the shaft I), mounted in bearings in the standard A, and turned by means of a wheel, E, which may be revolved either by hand or 3o by power. The pinions d gear into raelebarsf,

fixed to the sides c of the moving frame.

To the lower end of the frame C is attached a compressor. This, as shown, consists of the fixed part G of a ciampiiig-compressor. The

movable part g of the compressor is hinged to the fixed part on one side, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. It may be swung open, as shown in that figure, or closed to encompass the assembled staves. It is provided at its free end .go with a hasp, h., which locks to a stud, i, on the end of the fixed part of the clamp. 'When closed, the clamp forms a tapering opening,

enlarged from the top downward, concentricA with the circle of the staves when properly setup. The lower part of the openingis large enough to go over the assembled staves. The upper part is of a diameter sufficient to compress the staves, and to close them by being pressed down to a position shown in Fig. 2. 5o From the lower part of the clamp is suspended (No model.)

in loops a ring of stout wire or rod, (marked k.) It hangs concentric with the cavity of the clamp, and serves to hold the staves as they are assembled with their upper ends within it while the clamp is open, as shown in Fig. l. On the base B is fixed a rim, Z, concentric with the cavity of thc clamp, and adapted to receive the chine-hoop of the barrel. The hoop is put within this rim before the staves are set up, and sustains the outer face thereof in the manner shown in Fig. 2.

Vithin the annular rim Z'is a mechanism for bearing against the inner faces of the staves to press them against the chine-hoop, thus holding them in proper position under a certain tension during the forming of the upper part. This mechanism is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. A central boss, o, sustains a plate, t, a little larger in diameter, above it, with a space between the plate and boss sufficient to receive the ends of segments r, the segments having a projection, i", extending at right angles to their main part and bearing on the base. These segments are practically wedgeshaped, their outer faces being made to conform with the chine-hoop. A coiled spring, s, is inserted between the projection o" of the segments and the boss o, and tends constantly to press the segments outward toward the rim Z. It will thus be seen that after the chine-hoop has been inserted the staves are put in position by forcing the lower ends between the hoop and the movable segments, which thus constantly exert a pressure upon the ends of the staves and hold them in the proper position. Vhen the staves are thus assembled in place, the wheel is turned to force down the frame C, and the tapering clamp, forced over the upper ends ofthe staves, compresses them away from the ring 7',and forces them together, giving the barrel the proper bilge. The clamp is adapted to be forced down far enough below the chine to leave room for the chine-hoop, as shown in Fig. 2. \Vhen this is applied,the clamp may be opened, and the barrel taken out, ready for hooping. The clamp is then raised for repeating the operation.

I provide a hook, m, on one side of the frame to support the chine-hoop convenient to the hand of the workman.

IOO

Instead of the rim on the face, groove or cavity might be used to hold the hoop and the lower ends of the staves in place.

I do not confine myself to the pinions and rack-bars for raising and lowering the frame, as mechanical equivalents for these may be employed.

The means for holding the staves before the compression is applied may also be differently arranged. The precise arrangement shown is convenient, but is obviously not the only one possible.

I am aware that prior to my invention bar rel-making machines have been provided with compressing devices at each end adapted to act simultaneously to compress the staves at both ends of the barrel, this compressing device being so constructed as to operate to hold the staves in proper position to be compressed before the compressing action takes place, and I do not desire to be understood as claiming this as my invention. i

Iclaim as my invention- -1. The combination, in a barrel -making machine, of clamping devices for holding the lower ends of the staves in proper position within the lower hoop, a ring at the upper end to support the upper ends of the staves Without compression, and a vertically-mow able compressor having a tapering cavity to compress the staves at the upper end into proper form, with means for forcing down the compressor, substantially as described.

2. rlhe combination, in a barrel-making machine, of stationary clamping devices for movable part, a ring suspended from the lower y part of said compressor for holding the upper ends of the staves without compression,a frame supporting said compressor, and means, substantially as described, for moving the frame vertically, substantially as set forth.

4. In a barrel-1naking machine, a rim on the base for receiving and holding the lower ends of the staves within the lower hoop, a frame vertically movable in standards set in the base, a compressor carried upon the frame having a ring suspended therefrom to support the upper ends of the assembled staves without compression,and mechanism for forcing down the compressor, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM P. TRACY.

Vitnesses:

GEORG-E G. WITMAN, L. D. STEWARD. 

